Adams Mulls Search Panel for Town Administrator
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Administrative assistant Haley A. Meczywor was appointed to the spot last week for 35 days in the wake of the controversial resignation of Town Administrator William F. Ketcham.
Chairman Joseph C. Solomon went over the events at last week's workshop meeting during which Selectman Donald R. Sommer's position as temporary administrator was revoked and Meczywor was appointed in his place. Workshop meetings are not taped by Northern Berkshire Community Television Corp. Solomon said he wanted to keep everyone informed of what is going on and that Meczywor will continue in her duties as administrative assistant. He added that she will perform the duties of the town administrator "that could not be delayed."
The board is hoping to find someone to take on the unpaid interim administrator position.
The Selectmen are considering five-person search committee for a permanent, with each board member appointing someone. Selectman Joseph R. Dean Jr. said a smaller committee (a previous committee had 11 members) would be quicker.
Solomon said the search committee would be a "separate committee" but the selectmen would give guidelines in respect to what the board is looking for.
"We've always stayed away from it because we don't want to contaminate the outcome," said Dean.
Dean proposed picking the search chairman's name out of a hat, while Solomon asked the town counsel if it would be appropriate for the committee to appoint its own chairman. The Selectmen decided to put off the vote regarding the search committee until next week.
During the meeting, Dean spoke about an open meeting law seminar, held in Pittsfield last Thursday by the Berkshire district attorney's office. He said he was the only board member to attend.
"I kind of missed you guys," Dean said, adding that the seminar "was very enlightening."
The board members cited surgery and work among reasons they weren't able to attend. The Selectmen have been under fire recently for using executive sessions to withold information regarding Ketcham's departure.
Town meeting member and gadfly Jeffrey Lefebvre said afterward he felt that the seminar could have been "an opportunity to redeem [themselves]" and that the board should have at least sent a liaison. Lefebvre had planned to ask the district attorney's office to investigate whether the board had violated open meeting law.
In fact, Solomon read about open meeting law and the nine reasons the board can go into executive session right before the board when into executive session. Sommer then made the motion to go into executive session, citing it was for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to litigation.
The executive session, which Town Counsel Edmund St. John III and his son, Edmund St. John IV attended, lasted over an hour, after which the board's only vote was on a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m.
In other business:
Board of Health Chairman Roy Thompson took issue with the Selectmen criticizing a letter that his board had sent to restaurants regarding Servsafe certification, or food safety training.
"We are business friendly," he said. He wanted to show that the Board of Health had worked with restaurants and had given the establishments time to get certified.
Thompson read from the letter and gave an example of how the Board of Health worked with a restaurant and extended the deadline for certification. He said the letter "is not critical of businesses." Thompson added that if the board had a problem, he wanted the selectmen to talk directly to the Board of Health.
"We want this town to grow," he said.
Hazardous Waste and Electronics Collections
Edward Driscoll, a former selectman, informed the Selectmen that there are upcoming collections taking place for hazardous waste and for old electronics in the Northern Berkshire Solid Waste Management District — Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, New Ashford, Peru, Savoy, Williamstown and Windsor.
"It's time to clean out your house," said Driscoll.
Household hazardous waste collection day is Saturday, Oct. 4, 9 a.m. to noon, at the DPW garage on North Summer Street. There is no fee, but registration is required to dispose of hazardous waste, such as drain cleaners and antifreeze. To register call the district office at 413-743-8208. Things not to bring include latex paint (which can be disposed of regularly), household batteries, medical waste and motor oil.
The electronics collection will be taking place Oct. 4, 18 and 25, 8 a.m. to noon, at the old landfill on East Road. There will be electronic recycling fees, with televisions costing $5 to $25 to drop off, depending on their size. Most items, such as stereos, monitors and computers will cost $2 to $5.
Driscoll said Greg Dubois has built 44 computers for St. Stanislaus' School out of recycled parts from the collections.
"If you plug it in, we'll dispose of it," said Driscoll, adding that the collections usually break even. "It's not a major money maker for anybody."
New Web Site Design for Adams
Ryan Biros, chairman of the Web site committee, gave board members a template that the town's new Web site will be based on. It will feature a large banner at the top that can change with the seasons and will have three columns. In the center will be a rotating slide show. Sommer said the committee had done a good job.According to Biros, the current Web site is "very outdated." He worked with the committee and Ketcham to have money appropriated for the redesign. The committee has been working with Virtual Town Hall, a business that creates municipal Web sites.
Biros said the goals are to make the page user friendly, clutter free and eye appealing. He called the project an "extreme overhaul" of the old site.
"We're hoping to have it totally transitioned by the end of the month," said Biros.
Parking Problems
Police Chief Donald A. Poirot spoke about a problem regarding oversized vehicles parking on streets. The chief said the large vehicles, such as trailers and U-Hauls, are left on small roads and obstruct traffic. He said he is concerned with traffic hazards, such as getting emergency vehicles through.
Poirot also said officers haven't had any power to enforce parking laws regarding the vehicles. He asked for a format for officers to issue citations. The proposed regulation, which would leave discretion to enforce up to police officers, was passed unanimously pending review by town counsel.
School Year Start
Alfred W. Skrocki, superintendent of schools for the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District, gave an update on the start of school. He said it was the second year of a new strategic plan that includes nine goals and 39 strategies which, along with recent accomplishments, are available on the schools' Web site.
With the strategic plan, Skrocki wants to focus on curriculum, the safety of students and staff, and upgrading technology and facilities. For technology, there are new tech labs in four buildings in the district that Skrocki described as "extensions of the regular classroom." The schools are also working on heating and plumbing improvements to improve efficiency.
